Belles Stymied by Knights

Box Score

  • McKenna O'Shea registered a shot on goal for the Belles.
  • Thallia Robles made five saves.
  • Hannah Fisher added a save in goal.

NOTRE DAME, Ind. - The Saint Mary's soccer team came up shy in a 2-0 final against Calvin on Monday night.

The Belles were building toward a scoring opportunity in the opening five minutes of play against the Knights. Emily Beedie played a ball ahead to McKenna O'Shea on the right side of the field in the fourth minute of action. O'Shea had a one-versus-one offensive chance developing, but the freshman's touch to try to evade her defender was toe-poked away to stop the opportunity.

In the 25th minute, Cedella Breitenstein played a well-paced ball through the middle of the field into space near the left side of the box. Emily Lambert tried to race down the pass but was unable to get the needed touch to keep the ball in play as it rolled long for the goal kick.

The Knights nearly got on the scoreboard in the 37th minute as a mid-range shot bounced off the crossbar. The Belles flipped the ends of the field and had a strong scoring chance of their own in the 39th minute. Brianna Smith passed the ball into space along the left side of the field for McKenna O'Shea. The freshman cut inside her defender and launched a shot from 25 yards out only to have the effort collected by the goalkeeper for the save. Just a few seconds later, Smith again had the ball at her feet before connecting with O'Shea. This time, O'Shea played a pass back toward Molly Murphy, who was making a run into the box. One of Calvin's center backs, however, got to the ball first and broke up the play with a clearance up the field.

Calvin broke the deadlock with a goal in the 70th minute of play. Saint Mary's came right back with a scoring chance in the next minute. O'Shea was fouled along the right sideline approximately 20 yards off the endline. Kelsey Matyi took the free kick and placed it dangerously inside the box. The Calvin goalkeeper jumped off her line to punch the ball away before anyone could get off a shot. The cleared ball found its way to Callie Doyle, who played the ball back into the box. But again, the Belles were unable to capitalize on the chance as the Knights played the ball away. Calvin then earned a corner kick and added a second goal in the 73rd minute.

Late in the game, Molly Murphy started a potential transition scoring chance for the Belles. The sophomore played a ball ahead for Matyi, who was making a long run, but a defender stepped just in front of her to play the ball away with less than three minutes remaining. A minute later, Murphy and O'Shea played tight along the Calvin back line, who were all pushed up even with the center line of the field. A quick change of possession nearly played out to a clear breakaway opportunity for O'Shea, but two defenders quickly collapsed on Murphy to halt the scoring chance late.

McKenna O'Shea registered a shot on goal for the Belles. Thallia Robles made five saves, and Hannah Fisher added a save in goal.

The Belles (1-4, 0-3 MIAA) travel to Alma on Saturday, September 16 for a 3:00 p.m. contest against the Scots.

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